United Methodist News Service
The United Methodist Church is second only to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the number of congregations that host Boy Scouts of America groups. The United Methodist Church hosts more Cub Scout packs than any other religious group.
The Boy Scouts, as well as Girl Scouts of the USA, Big Brothers Big Sisters Amachi Partnership, Camp Fire USA and 4-H, are supported by United Methodist Men.
Boy Scouts of America leaders voted last year to lift the organization's longstanding ban on openly gay youth in the Scouting movement. The ban on openly gay adult leaders was retained. More than 70 percent of Scout units are chartered to religiously affiliated groups, reports Boy Scouts of America. Those charters comprise 62 percent of the group's 2.7 million youth members.